Word: suits
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...other hand, there is a school that believes the female torso is already as stripped down as it can get this side of decency. Supporters of this view have decided to replace mere bareness with well-designed scantiness. Their favorite is the one-piece bathing suit. But if this summons up images of yesteryear's skirted models or even the tank suit, look again (see color pages). The one-piece advocates are using all kinds of current high-fashion tricks, including plunging necklines, ruffles, open sides and cutouts...
...fact is that many designers and their clients are getting a bit bored with the bikini. Ann Cole, of Cole of California, notes that bikinis used to account for some 45% of bathing-suit sales, but now have only about 20% of the market. "The bikini will never vanish entirely," she predicts, "but it can't be bikini year in and year out." Tom Brigance, who has created more bathing suits over the years than anyone else in the business, complains: "There is very little a designer can do with a bikini. It's like plucking an eyebrow...
...Conservatism. Some designers are trying to win both sides of the argument. In addition to his bikinis, Blass, for instance, offers a one-piece suit with a high-rise belt attached just under the bosom to give a modified Empire look. He has also experimented with a belted suit that laces loosely down the front. This one anticipates another coming fashion trend-to leather. It is made out of a new material that looks like leather, "breathes" like leather, but can get wet all over. "It's fantastic," he says, "water rolls right off it." Just like human skin...
Even the relatively covered-up styles expose considerable areas of flesh, presenting many women with their annual moment of awful truth. "Next to going to a dentist, women most dread buying a bathing suit," says Ann Cole. Her calculated remedy: a new line of skin-colored suits embroidered with white flowers. The wearers look trim and nude -from a distance-while remaining covered and helpfully girdled. "It's sex and conservatism in one package," Miss Cole states. Another camouflage is a new version of that old favorite, the tunic, which hangs loosely to the hips and adds a touch...
Watching the Watchers. "The woman who walks away from the beach without a cover-up is out of her mind," says Designer Brigance. Even on the beach, girls are likely to feel the need of protection from sunburn, windburn, sandstorms and stares. To cope with the problem, some suits, called "stripper-dippers," come in three pieces-bra, pants and a removable midsection. Other cover-ups range from elongated sweaters that reach mid-calf (elsewhere called dresses) to Donald Brooks's coolie shirts, which just cover the suit at the hip line. Some of the most elegant are the ankle...